Tuesday, 08 September 2026
MEDAN | INDATANEWS.COM - Coordinating Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono (AHY) officially closed the 18th National Working Conference (Rakernas) of the Association of Indonesian Municipalities (APEKSI) 2026 on Thursday, July 2, 2026, at the Grand City Hall Medan. The closing ceremony marked the end of a series of strategic forums involving mayors from across Indonesia, which produced key recommendations for the country's future urban development.
Held in Medan as a central host city, the conference served not only as a platform for consolidating municipal governments but also reinforced strong commitments between the central and regional administrations to accelerate balanced and sustainable national development. The forum generated a range of strategic ideas deemed relevant to Indonesia's current urban challenges.
The event was attended by APEKSI Executive Board Chairman and Surabaya Mayor Eri Cahyadi, Medan Mayor Rico Tri Putra Bayu Waas, Indonesian House of Representatives member Muhammad Lokot Nasution, Independent Commissioner of PT Bank Tabungan Negara (Persero) Tbk Pietra Machreza Paloh, APEKSI Executive Director Alwis Rustam, as well as numerous mayors from across Indonesia, Medan Deputy Mayor H. Zakiyuddin Harahap, and Medan Regional Secretary Wiriya Alrahman. The broad presence of decision-makers underscored APEKSI's importance as a national strategic forum for urban development.
In his remarks, AHY emphasized that resilient urban development can only be achieved through strong and coordinated cooperation between central and regional governments. He described the APEKSI Rakernas as a crucial platform where local leaders directly share experiences and regional challenges.
"We aim to build a collective spirit between central and regional governments. Resilient cities are the fundamental pillar of Indonesia's development," AHY said.
He also outlined key urban challenges, including rapid urbanization, high population density, traffic congestion, waste management issues, flooding, as well as social and economic inequality. These conditions, he noted, require integrated and sustainable infrastructure development to strengthen regional connectivity and reduce development gaps.
AHY further stressed that targeted infrastructure policies could help create new economic growth centers across regions, ensuring that national economic expansion is not concentrated solely in major cities.
Beyond infrastructure, AHY highlighted the importance of research, innovation, and technological adoption in urban development. He said APEKSI should serve as a platform for mutual learning among municipal governments to exchange best practices.
He added that the forum should not merely function as a discussion space but must also produce concrete and actionable solutions tailored to local characteristics and regional potential.
Medan Mayor Rico Tri Putra Bayu Waas expressed his appreciation to all participants for their contributions to the success of the event. He noted that this year's conference carried special significance as it coincided with the 436th anniversary of Medan on July 1, 2026.
"The presence of all participants is a great honor for our city. This event is a special gift for Medan's 436th anniversary," Rico said.
He further explained that the conference brought together not only mayors but also academics, business actors, and young people. The Youth City Changers (YCC) program, in particular, provided a platform for the younger generation to contribute innovative ideas for urban development.
The conference also featured several thematic forums, including the Regional Development Planning Forum (Bappeda Forum), Food Forum, Environmental Forum, Communication and IT Forum, and Investment Forum. These sessions produced a series of strategic recommendations for Indonesia's future urban development.
Key recommendations include improving public services, accelerating digital transformation in government administration, strengthening food security and disaster preparedness, promoting sustainable infrastructure, and encouraging regional economic growth.
APEKSI Chairman and Surabaya Mayor Eri Cahyadi reaffirmed the commitment of municipal governments to supporting national government programs. He emphasized that APEKSI serves not only as a network of mayors but also as a platform to present real conditions from the regions.
"We fully support national strategic programs, but we also want to present real conditions on the ground and offer solutions," Eri said.
He also praised the city of Medan for successfully hosting the event, describing the conference as highly impressive.
At the conclusion of the event, it was announced that the city of Bandung will host the 19th APEKSI National Conference in 2027. Participants expressed hope that the recommendations produced will strengthen national policy and further deepen collaboration between central and regional governments. (IDNC)
REPORTER: Teguh Panjaitan | EDITOR: Fik Sagala
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